Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Kennett area woman seeking to challenge Pat Meehan
She becomes the 4th Democrat looking to upset the incumbent
The owner of a small business is the latest in what is becoming a crowded field of Democrats looking to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7. Elizabeth Moro, 44, announced her candidacy this week in a bid to capture the Democratic nomination to take on the four-term incumbent whose district covers the bulk of Delaware County, and parts of Chester, Berks and Montgomery counties.
Elizabeth Moro said she decided to run after President Trump used his very first executive order on the day after his inaugu-
inauguration to mandate higher mortgage insurance premiums, making it more difficult for hard-working Americans to own a home.
Dan Muroff, 49, of Mt. Airy, and Molly Sheehan, 31, of Philadelphia, and Drew McGinty, 54, also of Philadelphia, also have filed petitions for the Democratic nomination, and all of them have taken aim at Trump in kicking off their campaigns, in particular the failed Republican push to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with the American Health Care Act.
“I’m running because, like you, I’m sick and tired of hyper-partisan politics and Washington politicians not showing up for the people they represent,” said Moro, 44, a real estate agent. “I will stand up to President Trump and his rubber stamp, Congressman Meehan, to fight for a woman’s right to choose, equal pay for equal work, affordable education, a strong environmental future, and an economy that lets everyone get ahead.”
Moro, the 11th of 12 children, grew up the daughter of a radiator repairman and mother in a working-class home. Despite their modest roots, all her siblings went to college. Through Pell grants,
merit scholarships, and numerous jobs including one on an auto assembly line, Moro did too, at Western Michigan University.
She runs a successful small business and is a realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, in the heart of the 7th District, and manages an office of more than 50 people. With her husband they are raising five kids together In January, Moro attended the March on Washington.
“I went into real estate to help people own a home because I’ve seen how that can transform lives and it’s a part of the American dream,” Moro said. “The other part of the American dream is the notion
that anyone who works hard should be able to get ahead, but politicians like Pat Meehan are more beholden to party politics and large corporations than everyday people like me.”
She grew up in a household with progressive values, but was raised a Republican. She said she stands as pro-choice, progay marriage, pro-gun safety, and pro-environment and tried to make the Republican Party more inclusive through her earlier work, but switched years ago to the Democratic Party because she found those values most closely aligned with her own.
“Growing up, my mom had a massive dining room table and we always had extended
family, neighbors and friends over,” she said. “No matter how many, we always made more room. We would have a vigorous exchange of ideas and many viewpoints were represented, and every voice was heard. I want to bring those big table values to Washington because politicians aren’t listening to each other and nothing is getting done. I’m running today to ensure first and foremost that hard working people finally have a voice and are included at the table in our nation’s capital.”
Moro is the only Democratic candidate for this seat to reside in the Seventh District, which is the eighth least compact Congressional District in the
nation, due to gerrymandering.
In college, Moro obtained degrees in political science, public policy and women’s studies. She is actively involved in charities to fight homelessness, preserving our historic and natural resources, and safeguarding the environment. She is a leader in her community and throughout the years has been involved through her church, local schools, Girl Scouts, the arts and is seated on the local historic and economic committees.
Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district incorporates most of Delaware County along with portions of Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Montgomery counties.